COMM 190: Covid 19 Photo Diaries

Class Information
COMM 190: Covid 19 Photo Diaries
FALL 2020
Scheduled on Wednesday 3:00–5:50pm, but see below for mix of synchronous and non-
synchronous schedule
Location: Remote connection
Department of Communication
University of California, San Diego

Instructor Information
Professor Alex Fattal
[email protected]
Office: Online
Office hours: Tuesday 3–4pm or by appointment

INTRODUCTION
This class is organized by final projects in which you will produce a first-person photo-essay or
audiovisual narrative about your experience through the Covid-19 pandemic. You have free
range to orient the project however you like. It could be refracted through a relationship you
have with a friend or relative, pet, memory, place, or any other element of your life. It could be
thematic and tackle an idea or injustice in the world. IT IS ENTIRELY UP TO YOU. While this
freedom can be disorienting, by screening first-person works that I hope you will find inspiring,
working with a partner, convening in small groups, and getting feedback from me, it is my hope
that you will settle into a project that you will find both challenging and rewarding.

Those projects will take shape over the quarter as you keep a photo-diary and written journal.
You are only one person in a global collective of about 8 billion, but your story matters. Crafted
well (which is not easy, as you will see), it can resonate with millions or change the life decisions
of somebody you don’t know. It might help save a life. We will counterbalance this focus on the
individual with wider societal concerns about inequality and structural injustices, which will
permeate the films we watch and inform your artmaking practice. To this end, this course has
been selected as “Changemaker Course” that integrates a community engaged learning
dimension. That means that the class will engage with a City Heights based non-profit, the AjA
Project, which gives youth in southeast San Diego the tools to document their lives and their
communities, primarily through photography. Throughout the course teaching artists from the
AjA Project will share their work and reflections on their pedagogy in east San Diego and border
communities and prod us to think about how first-person and socially concerned documentary
practice can productively intersect.

We will view films and photo-essays that creatively present a visual narrative of personal
experience, works that span a range of approaches to this seemingly limited genre. These filmic
works are meant to stimulate your imagination about the form of your own photo-

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narratives/final projects and help you think about how you would like to structure the story of
your own experience through the pandemic.

Through the quarter, you will keep a written journal and a photographic journal. This could all
be done with a cell phone. (I personally wouldn’t recommend keeping the written journal on
your phone, but perhaps that’s a generational preference coming from someone who prefers
pen and paper.) Throughout the quarter you will work in small groups to mold the raw material
of your writings and images into a final presentation.

We are living through a moment of historical inflection. At stake in this pandemic is the
prospect of a massive economic downturn, a realignment in global leadership, and a
reconfiguration of higher education, to name just three possible structural shifts. The effects
will only be apparent a decade from now, or more, but your thoughtful reflections on your own
experience can help us anticipate and begin to understand larger transformations on the
horizon — through a human lens. As you compile your own photo-diaries, we will think deeply
about storytelling, and the photographic image. These are things that I work on as a scholar and
documentarian and that I will be looking to draw you into conversation about as we discuss the
various works we will watch and read.

I appreciate that your lives have been flipped upside down by the pandemic. Mine has been
too. This class will be a compassionate space in which we listen to each other and support each
other through this difficult time. If you are having trouble keeping up, please be in contact with
me privately and I will make every accommodation that I possibly can. By processing the
unfolding events and helping each other stitch together creative expressions of our
experiences, my hope is that this course can be a place where you can find relief from the
stresses of the moment and immerse yourself in something that gives you a sense of agency in
an uncertain time.

COURSE GOALS
By the end of this class, you will:

• have grappled with stimulating first person narratives and reflections in the form of
photo-essays and video diaries,
• kept a textual and visual journal of your life over the course of the fall quarter,
• have a better understanding of the structural forces at work in the current moment and
how they affect your life and intersect with pre-existing inequalities,
• have improved your skills as a photographer and editor,
• learned to give thoughtful, constructive feedback to your peers about their creative
work,
• produced a photo-essay about your experience.

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PLATFORMS AND TECHNOLOGY
In this class we will be relying mostly on a combination of Canvas, Zoom, and Google Docs. For
video editing I recommend using Adobe Premiere Pro. Unfortunately, UCSD is not making
licenses to it freely available anymore. It costs $32 per month. If you are able, I strongly suggest
purchasing two months from October 17 – December 17 (be sure to only buy the monthly, not
annual). If you cannot purchase access to Adobe Premiere Pro, please speak to me about free
alternatives. Unfortunately, I don’t have experiences with those and cannot recommend or
support you with them. For photo organization, selection, and sequencing, I would recommend
Adobe Bridge, but again, there’s a cost involved (it is packaged in Adobe’s Photography Plan,
which is $10/month). This is less urgent as there are many free alternatives available.

For Zoom, I am requiring you to put on your video. If, for some reason, you cannot do this,
please write to me to explain why and we can discuss your situation and reach some form of
accommodation. Using a virtual background is welcome, even encouraged.

Note: It is important that you are logged in via the UCSD's VPN in order to access some of the
materials and software we will be using. Instructions on how to use the VPN are available at :
https://blink.ucsd.edu/technology/network/connections/off-campus/VPN/

CLASS MEETINGS
Our class meet synchronously/live at 3pm PST on Wednesdays.

Alongside these meetings you should expect to do at least 3 hours of work per week which will
include:

• your documentary production work (approximately an hour and a half).

• the assigned reading and screenings (which will vary throughout the quarter)

REQUIREMENTS AND GRADING

Your job is to come to class having completed all of the assignments and prepared to
participate in the class discussion. I believe that you learn most when you are actively engaged
with the materials and grappling with them on your own and collectively inside and outside of
the classroom.

Beyond this baseline expectation, you will have the following assignments, which will be
weighted as follows:

Online discussion board — 20%

Quizzes — 10%
Participation — 20%
Final photo-essay — 50% (broken down in a rubric to be distributed by Week 5)

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Online Discussion Board
One hour before the start of every class, post one 175–225-word comment on the online
discussion board. I encourage you to also post one 50–100-word response to one of your
classmate’s comments. Think of these as well-considered social media posts where you give a
personal reaction to the screenings/readings for that week and raise a question or issue to
engage your classmates. Though this is the most informal of the assignments, you will be
graded on how meaningfully you engage with the class materials and your fellow students. As
with comments in class, postings to the discussion board should be made in a respectful tone.

Quizzes
The quizzes are designed to keep you on point. Given the fact that we will only meet nine times,
it is important that you come prepared, having done the assigned reading and screening. There
will be three quizzes and they will not be announced in advance. Your top two grades will count
and your lowest grade will be discarded. If you miss class when a quiz is given, that will be
deemed your lowest grade. If, for some reason, you miss more than one quiz, come speak to
me for an alternative assignment (which is likely to be a short essay).

Participation
As with most things in life, input = output. Come to each class with questions that emerge from
the screenings and readings, ready to listen to my presentations and to your classmates’
contributions to the discussion. Inevitably some students will feel more at ease participating in
the classroom discussion than others. While everyone has different learning styles, it is
important to contribute to the class in some way. Small group discussions are a good forum to
warm up your voice. All contributions are welcome in so far as they are made respectfully and
in no way belittle or disrespect anyone else. A good part of participation is giving thoughtful
feedback on your fellow students’ works. You are not being graded against each other
according to any curve. Showing yourself to be an engaged peer in the crit sessions and in small
group work is an important dimension of your participation grade.

Photo-Essay Final Project

“The photographer has to have a sense of passion, and also a sense of purpose. Passion
without purpose doesn’t work, and purpose without passion — no. You have to have
both.”
— Robert Frank as quoted by Wayne Miller in American Journey:
In Robert Frank’s Footsteps

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The purpose of the final project is clear: to tell an earnest, creative, compelling story about your
experience through the COVID-19 pandemic using photographs and texts (written and/or
spoken). You will need to provide the passion. By showing examples of first person and/or still
photograph-based narratives, I hope to inspire and cultivate that passion in you. Contrary to
popular mythology of the solitary genius, creativity does not happen in a vacuum. You are
isolated enough this quarter. We will work together on these projects. Each student will have a
partner who they are in continual contact with and each student will workshop their projects in
small groups twice before presenting their fine cuts to the whole class in Weeks 8 or 9.

Sub-Assignments of the final project:

• Students must make two journal entries per week and take two photograph per day (at
least five per week) throughout the entire quarter. Choose at least one journal entry
and three photographs to share with your partner and me, via a Google Doc, shared
among the three of us, every week. These should be edited such that you feel
comfortable sharing with me and your partner and should be uploaded by Wednesday
at 2pm PST. Partners are encouraged to provide encouragement and feedback on their
partner’s work (a factor in the partner’s sub-grade for weekly photo-journaling).
• Small group crit (critique) sessions: three partner sets — six students each — will meet
in weeks 3 and 6. Week 3 will be a brainstorming session in which we share some initial
material and help each other plan our projects. In Week 6, you will present a rough cut
of your project, something stitched together that although preliminary shows a clear
direction for the project, and get feedback from your peers.
• The grade for the final project will be divided as follows: Weekly photo-journaling, 30%;
Rough cut, 20%; Fine Cut, 20%; Final cut, 30%. The final project is worth 50% of your
total grade, so if you cut the above percentages in half that percentage is what each
sub-assignment is worth in your final grade.

Grading
A+ = 97 – 100% C+ = 79.99 – 77%
A = 96.99 – 94% C = 76.99 – 74%
A- = 93.99 – 90% C- = 73.99 – 70%
B+ = 89.99 – 87% D = 69.99 – 60%
B = 86.99 – 84% F = 59.9 — 0%
B- = 83.99 – 80%

Academic Integrity
"Academic Integrity is expected of everyone at UC San Diego. This means that you must be
honest, fair, responsible, respectful, and trustworthy in all of your actions. Lying, cheating or
any other forms of dishonesty will not be tolerated because they undermine learning and the
University’s ability to certify students’ knowledge and abilities. Thus, any attempt to get, or help
another get, a grade by cheating, lying or dishonesty will be reported to the Academic Integrity
Office and will result sanctions. Sanctions can include an F in this class and suspension or
dismissal from the University. So, think carefully before you act by asking yourself: a) is what

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I’m about to do or submit for credit an honest, fair, respectful, responsible & trustworthy
representation of my knowledge and abilities at this time and, b) would my instructor approve
of my action? You are ultimately the only person responsible for your behavior. So, if you are
unsure, don’t ask a friend—ask your instructor, instructional assistant, or the Academic
Integrity Office. You can learn more about academic integrity at academicintegrity.ucsd.edu”
(Source: Academic Integrity Office, 2018)

Disability Accommodations
“Students requesting accommodations for this course due to a disability must provide
a current Authorization for Accommodation (AFA) letter issued by the Office for
Students with Disabilities (OSD) which is located in University Center 202 behind Center
Hall. Students are required to present their AFA letters to Faculty (please make
arrangements to contact me privately) and to the OSD Liaison in the department in
advance so that accommodations may be arranged.

Contact the OSD for further information:

858.534.4382 (phone)
[email protected] (email)
http://disabilities.ucsd.edu (website)”

(source: Office for Students with Disabilities, 2018)

Appendix D- Title IX Compliance Statement

“The University recognizes the inherent dignity of all individuals and promotes respect for all
people. Sexual misconduct, physical and/or psychological abuse will NOT be tolerated. If you
have been the victim of sexual misconduct, physical and/or psychological abuse, we encourage
you to report this matter promptly. As a faculty member, I am interested in promoting a safe
and healthy environment, and should I learn of any sexual misconduct, physical and/or
psychological abuse, I must report the matter to the Title IX Coordinator. Should you want to
speak to a confidential source you may contact the Counseling Center/FSAP.”

(source: Communication Faculty Handbook, 2019)

E-mail Policy
Please contact me through [email protected]. Make sure to write “COMM 190” in the subject
line before you write anything else. Please use a cordial and respectful tone. I will do my best to
get back to you within 24 hours. If I do not get back to you within 48 hours, please feel free to
send me a reminder e-mail. If your question is about an assignment or class policy, please check
the syllabus and/or writing prompt before e-mailing.

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 * * * The instructor reserves the right to make alterations to this syllabus, especially since
the library is scrambling to make some resources available * * *

Week 1 — Wednesday, October 7 — Welcome, introductions, Photography is a Relationship

• Guest presentation Rizzhel Javier, Director of the AjA Project

Week 2 — Wednesday, October 14 — Photography and the Video Journal

Assignments:
• Watch “How My Family Dealt with the Coronavirus Outbreak” by Junting Zhou (2020, 12
mins) available here: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/07/opinion/coronavirus-
quarantine-china.html?auth=login-google&fbclid=IwAR3N0f7OgG-nKFfwvFHCEL-
Pzy1BIQ-G3bxDTl2omRK25ppHyuOACCbMF1o

• Watch Photographic Memory by Ross McElwee (2012, 88 mins)

available here: https://ucsd.kanopy.com/video/photographic-memory
[as with all Kanopy (film databas available through the librar) resources be sure to sign
in to the UCSD VPN if you are off campus]

• Guest presentation by AjA teaching artist, Beto Soto

Week 3 — Wednesday, October 21 — Mobile Phones as Records and Recorders

Assignment:
• Watch 160 Characters by Victoria Mapplebeck (2015, 11 mins), available here:
https://vimeo.com/189536800?fbclid=IwAR0SvR2WclF0gzfknXEyXC7gVl5qqQHtADmNq
5UHPlLSb14yMXyGfyzwTTY

• Watch Thrush by Gabriel Bisset-Smith (2010, 5 mins), available here:

https://vimeo.com/4131811?fbclid=IwAR0SfvfLka_IPmhsAiz9Rd_ss7mfecNDjzmDAf7lfH
zcVTaor6dWciEfAbI

• Watch Portraits from a Storm by Peter Jordan (2011, 4 mins), available here:
https://vimeo.com/59041495

• Watch In My Room by Mati Diop (2020, 20 mins)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q2Bd77yfvNM&feature=emb_title

• Guest Presentation by AjA Teaching Artist, Ale Uzarraga

Small group brainstorming

Week 4 — Wednesday, October 28 — Films of Stills

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Assignments:
• Watch La Jetée (The Pier) by Chris Marker (1962, 28 mins), available here:
https://ucsd.kanopy.com/video/la-jetee

• Watch Sans Soleil (Sunless) by Chris Marker (1983, 104 mins), available here:
https://ucsd.kanopy.com/video/sans-soleil

• Watch, BÄR by Pascal Floerks (2014, 8 mins), available here:

https://vimeo.com/174254407?fbclid=IwAR2PBM5frsOVytXFwbzEowAA6zrLtrp2RwSz_
UVXtUmDdVMoJtqa_gi1LmI

• Guest presentation by AjA Teaching Artist, Jeff Valenzuela

Week 5 — Wednesday, November 4 — The Power of the First Person

Assignments:
• Watch For Sama by Edward Watts and Waad a-Kateab (2019, 95 mins), available here,
https://ucsd.kanopy.com/video/sama

• Watch Save Syria’s Children made for Save the Children (2014, 2 mins), available here,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RBQ-IoHfimQ

• Read, “Are You More Sympathetic Because She’s British, Not Syrian?” NPR. Available
here: https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2016/05/10/477500337/are-you-
more-sympathetic-because-shes-british-and-not-syrian

• Guest presentation by AjA Teaching Artist, Anna Lynch

* * * Week 6, Nov. 11 — No Class, Veterans Holiday * * *

Week 7 — Wednesday, November 18 — The Essay Film

Assignments:
• Watch The Pearl Button by Patricio Guzman and Renate Sachse (2014, 81 mins),
available here,
https://ucsd.kanopy.com/product/pearl-button-0

• Watch Chronicle of a Summer by Edgar Morin and Jean Rouch (1961, 91 mins), available
here,
https://ucsd.kanopy.com/product/chronicle-summer

• Group work on projects, Crit Session I, small groups — ROUGH CUTS

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 • Guest presentation by AjA Teaching Artist, Laura Arango

Week 8 — Wednesday, November 25 — Crit Session II, full class — FINE CUTS

Week 9 — Wednesday, December 2 — Crit Session III, full class — FINE CUTS

Week 10 — Wednesday, December 9 — Celebratory final screening

* * * > > > Corrected Final Presentations Due December 16, 11:59pm < < < * * *